Hearing the words “you have cancer” can evoke a multitude of emotions
– from fear of the unknown to uncertainty about what the future holds.
A cancer diagnosis and the journey following can change the lives of literally everyone in its
path. Farther down the path of that journey, a transformation can occur – for those touched
by cancer – that can evoke a beauty of survivorship.
Transformations can occur on many levels – both seen and unseen. Take the bufferfly. Before
gaining its beauty and the ability to take flight, a caterpillar must embark on a journey that
can seem unbearable. However, it perseveres with the hope that it will emerge stronger. And it
does, transforming into a butterfly now able to soar, seeing life from a new perspective.
The Relay For Life movement is lifted up by cancer survivors and their caregivers around the
globe, who are the face of hope. To help us in honoring survivors and caregivers and to help
share your personal stories of triumph and transformation we are excited to collaborate with
the Butterfly Effect movement to introduce to you Bufferfly Stories: Hope Takes Flight!
We will be using a wooden butterfly to capture an inspiring story from a cancer survivor
and/or a caregiver. On June 25th this wooden butterfly will be hidden in the City of El Cerrito
for someone to find. The person who finds the butterfly is expected to decorate the butterfly
to represent their cancer story, share pictures and the story online using social medial, and
share their story at the Relay For Life of El Cerrito during the Opening Ceremony. The
butterfly needs be returned to the Relay For Life of El Cerrito after opening ceremony and the
person will receive a prize.
The butterfly will eventually become a part of a very special installation that will include
every butterfly that was dropped, decorated, and displayed – that’s potentially more than
5,000 butterflies from communities and campuses nationwide!
Please like El Cerrito Relay For Life on facebook or reply to this email to receive clues over
the next two weeks which will help you to be the one to find the wooden butterfly. Visit
Relay.ForLife.org/PaintYourWorldPurple for full details and resources about the Butterfly
Stories initiative.